Key result
Bedside echocardiography successfully identified the diagnostic features of a left atrial intramural hematoma complicated by ischemia following a catheter ablation procedure in a single patient.
Why the study?
Left atrial intramural hematoma is an uncommon entity requiring timely diagnosis, but cardiac CT and MRI are limited by lack of widespread availability.
Case Report (n=1)
Echocardiography is a valuable bedside diagnostic tool for identifying left atrial intramural hematoma in critically ill patients when CT or MRI are unavailable.
Bedside echocardiography may aid diagnosis of rare post-ablation hematoma when CT/MRI unavailable; single case leaves open generalizability and clinical utility.
Left atrial intramural hematoma (LAIH) is an uncommon entity for which a timely diagnosis is critical for decision making. Cardiac surgical or catheter-based procedures are potential causing factors. Though cardiac computerized tomography and magnetic resonance are highly accurate diagnostic modalities, their role is limited by the lack of widespread availability. The present clinical case illustrates the diagnostic features of LAIH that can be obtained using echocardiography at the bedside in critically ill patients. We report a case of LAIH, that followed a catheter ablation procedure and was complicated by cardiac and cerebral ischemia. Cardiac surgical management was required.
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Greco et al. (2021) conducted a case report in Left atrial intramural hematoma (n=1). Echocardiography was evaluated. Bedside echocardiography successfully identified the diagnostic features of a left atrial intramural hematoma complicated by ischemia following a catheter ablation procedure in a single patient.
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